What do I need/don't need for new baby?

Spendless

Jellyhead-have you got anyone who could have your eldest for a few hours, friends/relatives/summer kids club, so you could get into the babies routine and sleep when baby does?

My husband has been away for few days taking our eldest with him and I have enjoyed so much it just being me and little girl who's now 28 months. When she's had an afternoon nap so have I. Made me realise that I've never really had that sort of time with her the way I did when I only had one, cos even when he went to full-time school and before I worked I was still resticted by school drop off and pick up times

jellyhead

i'm glad it's the holidays i must say ... my eldest is 9 so to be honest i could say to him i'm going for a sleep and he'll amuse himself and won't open the door to anyone without waking me etc. - i'll do that after my husband has gone back to work. the in-laws visited today and FIL took spud to the cinema, MIL looked after roo and i had a long bath and sleep :-) at the moment my husband and i take the night hours in turns, we agreed that after 2 hours of him being awake we can switch so at least we know that it's 2 hours at the most before the other will take over, but i don't think my husband will be able to do that once he goes back to work on thursday. my mum is off sick so she will always have my eldest if i ask, she lives nearby. it's been a constant round of visitors though recently, we haven't had a day to ourselves. it will get better once we know roo's routine better.

there's a kids club at 9.30-12 but he hasn't been awake in time, he's back on antibiotics again and is very sleepy (except for the manic times when the E numbers affect him - why are antibiotics always in red or yellow syrup?!!!!). he's got impetigo, it's quite nasty, he's not allowed to kiss or hold baby roo. the kids club will have to wait until he's not scabby and is getting up at his normal hour.

i bet it's been lovely just you and your little girl, but are you missing your eldest like mad? i would be lol! i did when they went camping while i was pregnant. i bet he likes having your husband's full attention though too, it's been a while since he was the only child

ms_kaz

fsdss wrote:

please be careful about the above advice of putting baby in your bed, i know that the foundation for the study of infant deaths (cot death research) do advise people not to do this as it is a common contributing factor in causing cot death.

I would like to disagree with this comment, I have 6 children and every one of them slept in bed with me until they were 2 years old, I think it depends on your own personal wishes

Choccyholic

Jess, I did use Bambino Mio pre-folds, they had their place for the first couple of months but once he grew out of the first size we just went with Motherease one-size - which can be too big for some newborns, hence why we had the Bambinos. Use the nappy lady website I gave you for some top advise, she tailors it to your lifestyle.

Save on babywipes another way. Once a week I make up a bottom wash spray solution I use with hand sized squares of fleece material I made from an offcut. Mix 1 cup of strong camomile tea with 1tbsp sunflower oil, 1 drop of lavender essential oil and 1 drop of tea tree essential oil. Put it in a clean empty spray bottle. I found commercial babywipes stang my sons bottom, even the sensitive ones. The fleece wipes were just chucked in the nappy bucket. You'll need about 30 of the things.

NB - be careful if you re-use a spray bottle as it may have traces of chemicals of what used to be in it. We bought new travel size bottles. Have 1 bottles and you can take one out & about with you.

Savvy_Sue

Just to say that if you buy or get given anything from Boots that you don't want but don't have a receipt they will exchange it for other things. You might get lucky: one little branch did put the cost of a pair of bedsocks onto a gift card for me, but I don't think she should have done! When I asked most recently there was a clear sign on the till saying it would be an exchange without receipt, so I knew I was trying it on.

gemmaj

Me again, still thinking about babies! (Not sure whether this should be a new thread or merge in with the last one - board people please feel free to fiddle!)

Am trying to figure out how I could afford to keep my house and give up work to have a baby.

Can anyone help me with "ongoing baby costs" - after purchasing the initial necessaries, what do you need after that, or what extra costs are there in, say, the first 2 years?

Nappies, wipes, shampoo etc. Food. Doctors (no NHS here in Guernsey). Clothes. I seem to have a short list - what have I missed? Mother and Baby Groups?

Also I am sure I have seen posts on the "start up" costs of babies - but I can't find them! Can anyone help? Fortunately I have a mother-in-law addicted to car booting and desperate for her son to become a father, so I am more concerned with the "post-baby monthly budgeting"

Thanks!

iwanttosave_2

You seem to have covered the it there, anything else is completly unessential, maybe just set aside £10 a week to be able to go swimming or anywhere else, most mother and baby clubs are free, just speak to a health visitor or they are about £1-2 at the most.

There is a thread on the OS board for cheaper options of things and tips here

rach1973

They say that you can never afford to have a baby...if you save up it'll never happen.

I gave up work after I had my 2nd...but we were lucky enough to have enough money to pay off all debts prior to this. At the time I earnt £12,000 a year more than my Hubby so we had a substantial wage decrease when Finlay arrived, you make do though.
I've just read your last entry on your other post....I think you and your hubby should think about him becoming a Stay at home Dad - but first get him to do more round the house as it is not a holiday.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do and enjoy yourselves

Becles

You can cut costs a lot. Off the top of my head:

Wipes - just buy them for convenience when out. At home use either cotton wool and cheap baby lotion, or buy some cheap flannels and wash them after each dirty nappy.

Toiletries - supermarket own brands are just as good, and are cheaper. You only use tiny amounts so a bottle lasts ages.

Food - buy a stick blender and some small tupperware tubs and make your own. Much cheaper than buying jars/tins, and better for baby as there are no additives.

Steam sterliser - costs more initially but no ongoing costs as you don't have to buy sterlising fluid.

Clothes - shop at supermarkets, Matalan, Primark etc. Babies get surprisingly dirty, so it's not worth spending a lot of money on clothes. Budget clothes that can be washed over and over are great for most of the time, and just buy a couple of really nice things to go out in.

The mother and baby group I went to was free - they just asked for a £1 every few weeks for a fund to cover the cost of hot drinks and biccys!

supershopper_3

Better still do not buy toiletries at all. Babies do not need the chemicals in most soaps etc. Only shampoo is needed and that is not until later on. Water cleanses them just as well.